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Only a few hours’ drive away from Toronto, the Outaouais region (pronounced “oo-ta-way”) offers endless family-friendly attractions and adventures to make your next vacation your best yet. You’re never far from amazing views, accessible outdoor pursuits or cultural highlights in this dynamic Quebec region. We’ll share where to sleep, where to eat and what to do in the Outaouais.
Gatineau
Begin your Outaouais adventure by exploring the rich history of Gatineau, the largest city in the Outaouais, just across the Ottawa River from the nation’s capital. Visit Jacques-Cartier Park for magnificent views of Parliament Hill before exploring the 30-kilometre-long Voyageurs Pathway, where you can bike, roller skate or walk the same route as First Nations people and explorers from long ago.
Where to stay
The Four Points by Sheraton Gatineau-Ottawa (35 Laurier St.) is located just across the street from the Canadian Museum of History and makes for a convenient and comfortable base to explore the area. Family rooms are available with either two queen-size beds or a king-size and a separate sofa bed. The whole family will appreciate relaxing in the indoor pool after a day of sightseeing.
Where to eat
Stop by Bobino Bagel (61 Laurier St.) and choose from nine different types of homemade bagels and toppings, including chocolate! Experience the playful atmosphere of Pärlé Bistro Ludique (325 Gréber Blvd.), where you can challenge your family to a board game from the restaurant’s huge collection, or let the little ones play with the on-site toy library while you browse the bistro menu. The kid options include main meals for around $11. Note that the restaurant is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays.
What to do
Visit the Canadian Museum of History (100 Laurier St.)—one of the country’s most popular museums—and take a fascinating journey through 15,000 years of social and human history. Marvel at the enormous and intricately designed totem poles on display in the Great Hall and wander the Native houses representing the culture of the First Peoples of Canada’s Pacific Coast. Catch a documentary movie on the giant screen at the on-site CINÉ+ theatre.
Kids will love exploring, learning and playing inside the Canadian Children’s Museum (part of the Canadian Museum of History), where they’ll find a colourful Pakistani bus, a huge cargo ship they can climb aboard, a Mexican open-air kitchen and an Egyptian pyramid they can crawl inside. General admission tickets include access to the Canadian Museum of History, the Canadian Children’s Museum and CINÉ+: $22 for adults and $15 for kids aged 2 to 12 years.
Collines-de-l’Outaouais
Come to the Collines-de-l’Outaouais to experience Gatineau Park (33 Scott Rd.). This conservation park covers 361 square kilometres with a diverse landscape of lush forests, serene lakes and rolling hills. Active families will love exploring the extensive network of trails, by bike or on foot. Take in scenic views and keep an eye out for wildlife like the peregrine falcon—an at-risk species—at Luskville Falls, or Pink Lake’s three-spined stickleback fish, a species that has evolved from a saltwater fish to a lake-loving one. Take a family bike ride through charming villages like Wakefield and Chelsea, browse the shops, enjoy an ice cream and experience genuine Quebec hospitality.
Where to stay
Choose Le Bellevue (3 des Bois-Francs Rd.) where families can stay in a spacious two-bedroom apartment with a full kitchen for total convenience. Rooms have large private balconies offering nature views for miles.
Where to eat
Savour a meal at Café Le Hibou (757 Riverside Rd.), which has a lovely patio overlooking the river. Nikosi Bistro Pub (721 Riverside Rd.) combines traditional French cuisine with Indigenous flair. Try the bannock bread: it’s delicious.
What to do
For a unique experience for the whole family, navigate the water labyrinth at Eco-Odyssée Nature Park (52 Les Sources Rd.). You can explore the routes by canoe, paddleboard or pedal boat, following clues on signposts along the way. The park also offers a walking labyrinth and an illuminated pathway to explore the marshes at nighttime. Entry to the park is $8 for adults and $4 for children, or take a pedalboat (that fits two adults and two children) through the water labyrinth for $60.
Vallée-de-la-Gatineau
The largest territory in the region, Vallée-de-la-gatineau is perfect for outdoor enthusiasts, with a huge range of activities like cycling, camping and water sports, for both young and adult explorers to enjoy.
Where to stay
Get away from it all at Camping Union – Chez Rainville (50 Rainville Rd.), where you can bring a tent or stay in furnished cabins. There’s a long sandy stretch of beach for kids to enjoy along with a children’s playground.
Where to eat
Stop at Épicerie L’Huile d’Olive (403 des Oblats St.) on your way to the campground to pick up some home-cooked dishes (main meals around $20) and locally sourced products, like bread, cheese and even handmade cutting boards and jewellery.
What to do
Venture away from your campground to explore the Verger Merleau orchard (72 Paul Rd., Bouchette) where you can go apple picking and take home delicious products like apple butter, and cider. Or visit Les Fruits du Sommet (9 Potvin Rd., Messines), where your kids can pick as many raspberries and blueberries as they can hold. They also have a nine-hole golf course to keep older teens and adults engaged.
Pontiac
Pontiac has a rugged charm beloved by outdoor adventure seekers. Explore dense forests, rushing rivers and find adventures at every turn. There are even indoor attractions to explore on rainy days like the George Bryson Cultural House (314 Rt. 148, Mansfield-et-Pontefract). Here you can search through genealogical records to trace your family tree or challenge your family to puzzle their way out of the House’s two themed escape rooms.
Where to stay
At Aventure Coulonge (600 Bois-Franc Rd., Mansfield-et-Pontefract) you can choose from nontraditional micro-furnished cabins for four to six people or quiet wooded camp lots with Coulonge River views for trailers. There’s also a ready-to-camp site where you can experience sleeping in the great outdoors while still having a few comforts like bed bases and an outdoor shower and toilet.
Where to eat
Visit Café Downtown (535 Baume St., Fort-Coulonge) for live music while you sample beers from local microbreweries and enjoy tasty burgers, pizzas, soups and sandwiches.
What to do
Experience thrills for the whole family at Chutes Coulonge Adventure Park (100 Du-Parc-des-Chutes Drive, Mansfield-et-Pontefract), which features obstacle courses with zip lines and a via ferrata (a rock-climbing route where you clip onto a cable to climb and enjoy amazing views safely). Younger children can enjoy the splash pad, a low-ropes obstacle course, and small rock-climbing walls. The historic trails with views of the falls and the museum are a nice way to wind down after all that adventure. Tickets start from $8.70 for adults and $5.20 for children.
Petite Nation
Home to the charming town of Montebello, where you’ll find the luxurious yet rustic Fairmont Le Château Montebello (which is the world’s largest log cabin), Plaisance (Quebec’s national park) and the Centre touristique du Lac-Simon with its beautiful sandy beach, Petite Nation is the setting for a fun-filled, memorable family vacation.
Where to sleep
For a unique experience your kids will never forget, stay inside a wildlife park at Hébergements insolites du Parc Omega (399 Rt. 323 Nord, Montebello), where you can choose from prospector tents, Wi-tents, a house on stilts, tipis and log cabins. Some luxury accommodation options are housed within the animal enclosures, so you’ll have the opportunity to see wolves and bears right from your bedroom window.
Where to eat
You won’t need to leave the park to enjoy a good meal. The OmegaBon Restaurant (399 Rt. 323 Nord, Montebello) offers breakfast, lunch and dinner and has a special children’s menu featuring fish and chips, a drink and ice cream for dessert all for $16.
What to do
The 12-kilometre car safari at Parc Omega (399 Rt. 323 Nord, Montebello) features numerous species of Canadian wild animals living in their natural habitat. There are also many hiking trails, where deer roam freely, and a farm to explore.
The Outaouais region promises a welcoming and relaxed atmosphere for your next family adventure. From the rich history of Gatineau to the expansive wilderness of the Vallée-de-la-Gatineau, each territory offers a unique blend of outdoor activities, cultural experiences, and delicious culinary delights. Start planning now and discover why the Outaouais is the ideal destination for your next unforgettable family vacation.
For more information, visit: tourismeoutaouais.com.
In collaboration with Bonjour Québec.
